Rural Dance

There are dances which have managed to steer clear of European influences and
to this day without visible foreign characteristics. Such as dance like the “Maglalatik” a
tagalong war dance. The subject matter of this dance is open combat between Christian
and Muslim soldier over “Latik” or coconut residue. What is unique is that no sword or
dummy are used. Instead each combatant has eight coconut shells tied to his body on the
chest, behind the shoulders, above the knees, and on the hips. In addition each combatant
has a pierce of shell in each hand. After the mood of fighting has been reached, they clash
each one aiming blows at the coconut shells on his opponents’ body creating rhythmic
sounds. Gradually, positions shift and though the shift can be determined who is beating.
As a great number of folk dance are mimetic in character. A dance may reenact
rice pounding, as in case of ratio of Bulacan, or it may portray the action of the rice
threshers like the Tioka dance of Laguna. In the coconut region, there is a popular dance
the Mananguete. It portrays how many tuba, a potent brew made from coconut buds.
Rural/Barrio
Perhaps the best known and closest to Filipino heart are the dances from the rural
Christian lowlands: a country blessed with so much beauty. To the Filipinos, these dances
illustrate the fiesta spirit and demonstrate a love of life. They express joy in work, a love
for music, and pleasure in the simplicities of life. Typical attire in the Rural Suite
includes colorful Balintawak and Patadyong skirts for the women, and Camisa de Chino
and colored trousers for the men.
Kuratsa

A dance originating in Bohol, Visayas, it is popular at

Ilokano and Visayas festivals. This dance commands a sense of
improvisation which mimics a young playful couple’s attempt
to get each other’s attention.

Oasiwas

Oasiwas is a dance in which an oil

lamp is balanced on the dancer's head
as he swings around lighted lamps
wrapped in porous cloth or fishnet.
The name of the dance comes from
the Pangasinense word for swinging.
The dance is performed by fishermen
of Lingayen when celebrating a good
catch. It is accompanied by waltz-like
music.

Palu-Palo
In Laguna, the village
Labanderas or washerwomen, spend
relatively calm day by doing their
laundry when tsismis or gossip among
them gets out of hand and drama ensues.
Through fighting with their palos
(laundry paddles) to resolve their
disputes, their dance come to life.
 Binasuan

This colorful and lively dance

from Bayambang in the Pangasinan
province shows off the balancing
skills of the dancers. The glasses that
the dancers gracefully yet carefully
maneuver are half-filled with rice
wine. Binasuan, meaning “with the
use of a drinking glass” in
Pangasinan, is often performed as
entertainment at weddings, birthdays,
and fiestas.

Bayluhan

The Bayluhan is a dance performed

in Malabon and Navotas by childless women
who were unable to make the annual
pilgrimage to neighboring Obando to do a
prayer-dance for a child. The women wait
instead for their friends who went to the
fertility festival to return, and then they
recreate the fertility dance.

Other examples of rural dances:

Bagol Binatbatan Binoyugan
Itik-itik Kalapati Kalatong
Kilingkingan Pandanggo sa Tapis
Pandanggo sa Ilaw
Pateado
Regatones
Sakuting
Sapatya
Sayaw sa bangko
Sinulog
Subli
Tinikling
Tinolabong